Kite reel device



Aug. 4, 1964 J. J. SHAPIRO KITE REEL DEVICE 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Fil ed Dec. 16. 1960 \IIIIIIIIIJ' I \\m/vp fi/ 2 m Q mi 5 0 V 3 rlv I17 I M. Q

F I E E INVENTOR. Juan/v .I SHAPmo FIG!!- ATTOEA/EY Aug. 4, 1964 .1. J. SHAPIRO KITE REEL DEVICE Filed Dec. 16', 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J'u: nu J JHAP/R a Hr-rOBAI 3,143,316 KITE REEL DEVICE Justin .I. Shapiro, 39 Domingo Ave., Berkeley 5, Calif. Filed Dec. 16, 196i), Ser. No. 76,285 Claims. (Cl. 242-96) This invention relates to winding and reeling devices, and more particularly to a new and improved device for winding a kite cord or similar flexible retention line.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved cord winding device which is simple in construction, which is easy to use, and which permits a cord or line to be wound or unwound without becoming snarled or tangled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for winding a kite cord or the like, said device being very inexpensive to fabricate, being compact in size, and being provided with means for readily changing or reducing to zero its cranking radius in accordance with the conditions under which it is to be employed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved winding reel device for kite cord or similar types of retention lines, said device being durable in construction, being eflicient in operation, and being provided with means for accurately controlling its speed of rotation when kite cord or similar line is being unwound therefrom, whereby the operator may closely regulate the rate at which the cord or line is fed from the reel device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved reel device for use with kite cord or similar flem'ble retention lines, said device involving only a few parts, being light in weight, being easy to set up for use, and being neat in appearance, so that it is a highly desirable accessory item for kites or similar toy objects employing retention lines or cords.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an improved reel device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the reel device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view, partly in crosssection of another form of reel device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved reel device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device 11 comprises a substan tially flat main body 12 of suitable rigid material, such as wood or the like, said main body being originally generally rectangular in shape. The main body is formed with the inwardly offset straight parallel opposite side edge portions 13, 13 which extend for the major portion of the length of the body, thereby defining inwardly sloping shoulders 14 adjacent the top and bottom ends of the a body. The body 12 is formed at its top and bottom ends with respective generally U-shaped outwardly facing notches 15, 15 adapted to receive the turns 16 of a kite cordor similar flexible retention line 17, shown in dotted view in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the sides of the notches 15 United States Patent 0.

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are outwardly divergent and the notch edges are smoothly rounded oif, as shown at 18 in FIGURE 4.

Body 12 is formed with an anchoring aperture 19 adjacent one side of one of the notches 15 for securing the end of a kite cord or similar flexible retention line to the device.

Designated at 29, 20 are respective handle members detachably and rotatably secured to the inwardly offset side edge portions 13, 13 at selected locations thereon. For this purpose, the side edge portions 13 are formed with spaced counterbores 21 located at various distances apart and at opposite sides of the transverse axis of body 12, as shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, the innermost counterbores 21 are located on said transverse axis, shown at AA, in alignment with each other. The remaining counterbores are spaced along the side edge portions 13, 13 on opposite sides of said transverse axis in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A female snap fastener element 22 is secured in the inner portion of each counterbore 21, and a bearing sleeve 23 of substantial length is secured in the counterbore between the snap fastener element and the outer end of the counterbore in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. The bearing sleeves 23 may be of brass or other suitable wear-resistant material.

Each handle assembly comprises an axially bored main body portion 24 of wood or similar rigid material. A metal supporting shaft 25 extends through the axial bore 26 of the handle body and is retained at its outer end by a conventional retaining washer 27 lockingly secured on the shaft 26, the end of the handle body being formed with a counterbore 29 to receive the retaining washer 27, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The retaining washer 27 is of a well known type provided with inwardly extending locking prongs inclined in a direction permitting the retainer to be moved onto the shaft from one direction but gripping the shaft to prevent reverse movement thereof.

washer 27, lockingly engaged on the shaft member. As

shown in FIGURE 3, the brake disc 30 is retained adjacent the inner end of the handle body 24 by the retaining washer 33, but sufficient looseness is provided so that body 24 can normally rotate freely relative to disc 30.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the face of disc 30 adjacent the handle body 24 is knurled, as shown at 34, so that freedom of rotation of handle body 24 with respect to brake disc 34 may be limited by exerting inward force on the handle body, as will be presently described.

Shaft 25 is provided with the axially extending outer stud portion 35 formed with an end ball 36 lockingly engageable with a selected female snap fastener element 22, as shown in FIGURE 3. Said stud portion is engageable in a guide sleeve 23 and is of sufiicient length so that the opposite segment-shaped flanges 37, 37 of the associated brake disc 30 will snugly receive the edge portion 13 therebetween when the associated oall ele- 'ment 36 is lockingly engaged through the female snap fastener element 22 in the selected counterbore 21.

In setting up the device for use, the stud elements 35 are engaged in selected counterbores 21 in the opposite inwardly offset side edge portions 13 of main body 12, for example, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, at distances from the transverse axis A-A of the body 12 suflicient to provide the desired mechanical advantage. The cord 17 may be wound up on the reel device by simultaneously grasping the handles 29, 2t and cranking the device in the required direction to wind up the cord. The cord may be allowed to unwind either by cranking in the opposite direction, or by repositioning the handles in the counterbores 21 on the transverse center line AA, the reel unwinding without any motion of the handles. The speed of unwinding may be controlled, when the handles are in transverse central axis position and where the pulling force on the cord is substantial, by exerting inward braking force on the handle body members 24, 24, which limits the freedom of rotation of said handle body members with respect to the brake discs 30.

Since the edge portions 13, 13 are inwardly offset, the shouldered corner elements 40 serve as guard members to prevent loose cord from becoming engaged between the inner ends of the handle body members 24 and the brake disc members 30, since said corners act as guide elements, their outer surfaces guiding the loose cord away from the edge portions 13. To further guide such loose cord away from the joint between the handle body and the associated disc member 30, the inner end portion of each handle body is flared, as shown at 41, presenting outwardly convergent surfaces tending to guide such loose cord toward the intermediate portions of the handle body members.

As will be readily apparent, the positions of the handle members may be quickly changed, in accordance with the conditions under which the reel device is to be used,

for example, when the wind velocity changes, requiring more or less force to'be applied to the handles for winding up the cord, or when it is desired to wind or unwind the cord at a more or less rapid rate.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, another form of reel device according to the present invention is designated generally at 50. The device 54) comprises a substantially flat body 51 of rigid material formed with respective generally U-shaped rounded notches 52, 52 at its top and bottom ends adapted to receive the turns of a flexible cord wound on the body. The body is formed at one side thereof with an anchoring aperture 53 for securing one end of the cord to said body. Respective handle members 54, 54 are rotatably secured to opposite side edges 55, 55 of the body 51.

Body 51 is formed with respective longitudinal slots 56, 56 extending parallel to and spaced inwardly from the side edges 55, 55, said slots extending on opposite sides of the transverse center line AA, as shown. The side marginal portions of said body are formed with further longitudinal slots 57 connecting the outer sides of the slots 56 with the side edges of body 51 and extending for the major portions of the lengths of said slots 56.

The walls of slots 57 are formed with spaced pairs of arcuate opposing recesses 59 defining seats to receive the inner ends of the handle members 54. The pairs of opposing recesses 59, 59 are spaced on opposite sides of the transverse center line AA in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6, whereby to provide different cranking radii for the handle members relative to said transverse center line. Respective pairs of opposing recesses 59, 59 are provided in the edges 55, 55 and located on said transverse center line, as well as being spaced on opposite sides thereof, as shown.

The inner walls of slots 56, 56 are formed with respective pilot holes 60 axially aligned with the seats defined by the opposing pairs of recesses 59.

Each handle member 54 is rotatably mounted on an axial shaft rod 61, a retaining washer 27 being provided on the outer end portion of the rod 61 and being received in a counterbore 62 in said outer end portion. The rod 61 extends through the associated slot 57 into the adjacent slot 56, and the inner end of the rod is receivable in a pilot hole 60 when the handle member is seated in one of the seats defined by a pair of opposing recesses 59, 59.

Each shaft rod 61 is biased inwardly by a coiled spring 63 surrounding the portion of rod 61 in slot 56 and bearing between respective annular cup-shaped washers 64 and 65 receiving the end turns of the spring. Washer positions in other seats.

65 bear against the outer wall of the associated slot 56 and washer 64 bears against a retaining washer 33 secured on the rod 61.

The handle members may be selectively engaged in the seats defined by the opposing pairs of recesses 59, 59 to provide difierent cranking radii, or to place the handle members on the transverse axis AA. Thus, the handle members may be pulled outwardly against the force of their associated biasing springs 63 to remove them from their seats and may be shifted along the slots 57 to new The cup-shaped washers 65 are slidable along the outer walls of the slots 56 to permit such shifting of position of the handle members. In their selected positions, the inner ends of the handle members are rotatably received in the seats defined by the selected opposing pairs of recesses 59, 59 and the inner ends of the shaft rods 61 are received in the corresponding pilot holes 60.

While certain specific embodiments of a reel device for kite cord or other flexible retention line have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reel device of the character described comprising a substantially flat body of rigid material having parallel opposite sides and being formed with respective notches at its top and bottom ends adapted to receive the turns of a flexible cord wound on said body, respective handle members at the opposite side edges of the body, said handle members including supporting shafts and having gripping portions freely rotatable on said shafts, said body being provided with positioning recess means spaced inwardly from the side edges of the body and being located to receive the inner ends of the shafts, guide means in the side edges of the body engageable with portions of said handle members and cooperating with said recess means to support the handle members in positions perpendicular to said side edges, and means detachably retaining said shaft inner ends in said recess means.

2. A reel device of the character described comprising a substantially flat body of rigid material having parallel opposite sides and being formed with respective notches at its top and bottom ends adapted to receive the turns of a flexible cord wound on said body, respective handle members at the opposite side edges of the body, said handle members including supporting shafts and having gripping portions freely rotatable on said shafts, said body being provided with positioning recess means spaced inwardly from the side edges of the body and being located to receive the inner ends of the shafts, guide means in the side edges of the body engageable with portions of' said handle members and cooperating with said recess means to support the handle members in positions perpendicular to said side edges, and means detachably retaining said shaft inner ends in said recess means, said body being provided with slots extending parallel to said side edges, and said'positioning recess means comprising pilot holes formed in the inner walls of said slots.

3. The structure of claim 2, and wherein said guide means comprises seats formed in said side edges externally adjacent the slots and shaped to rotatably receive said gripping portions of the handle members.

4. The structure of claim 2, and wherein said lastnamed means comprises spring means in the slots surrounding the shafts and bearing between the outer walls of the slots and the shafts to urge the inner ends of the shafts into said pilot holes.

5. A reel device of the character described comprising a substantially flat body of rigid material having paral- Iel opposite sides and being formed with respective notches at its top and bottom ends adapted to receive the turns of a flexible cord Wound on said body, respective handle members at the opposite side edges of the body, means to rotatably secure said handle members to said side edges at selected positions on said side edges, and means to rotatably support said handle members in said selected positions on axes extending substantially perpendicular to said side edges, said first-named means comprising supporting shafts received axially through said handle members and having yieldable retaining elements on their inner ends, said body being provided with slots parallel to said side edges and with further slots connecting said first-named slots with said side edges,

said shafts extending through said further slots and said 15 yieldable retaining means being operatively disposed in said first-named slots, said last-named means comprising seats formed in said side edges rotatably receiving the handle members and pilot holes formed in the body in alignment with the seats and receiving the inner ends of the supporting shafts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,378 Chamberlain Oct. 2, 1866 1,508,029 Segal Sept. 9, 1924 1,783,159 Palmer Nov. 25, 1930 2,505,151 Schweitz Apr. 25, 1950 2,531,816 Homoky Nov. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 600,922 Germany Aug. 3, 1934 839,209 Great Britain June 29, 1960 

1. A REEL DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BODY OF RIGID MATERIAL HAVING PARALLEL OPPOSITE SIDES AND BEING FORMED WITH RESPECTIVE NOTCHES AT ITS TOP AND BOTTOM ENDS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE TURNS OF A FLEXIBLE CORD WOUND ON SAID BODY, RESPECTIVE HANDLE MEMBERS AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE BODY, SAID HANDLE MEMBERS INCLUDING SUPPORTING SHAFTS AND HAVING GRIPPING PORTIONS FREELY ROTATABLE ON SAID SHAFTS, SAID BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH POSITIONING RECESS MEANS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF THE BODY AND BEING LOCATED TO RECEIVE THE INNER ENDS OF THE SHAFTS, GUIDE MEANS IN THE SIDE EDGES OF THE BODY ENGAGEABLE WITH PORTIONS OF SAID HANDLE MEMBERS AND COOPERATING WITH SAID RECESS MEANS TO SUPPORT THE HANDLE MEMBERS IN POSITIONS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SIDE EDGES, AND MEANS DETACHABLY RETAINING SAID SHAFT INNER ENDS IN SAID RECESS MEANS. 